Support device for dual-layer glass curtain wall

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall, which is used to support a dual-layer glass curtain wall and provides an airtight/waterproof function for the gap of the dual-layer glass curtain wall and comprises a column, a clamp member sleeving the column, and a top brace installed inside the column. The outer surface of the column has an external thread. The column has a block member horizontally extending from the bottom of one end, and a packing ring is arranged in the root of the block member. The other end of the column has an inward-concaved cavity, and a fixing element is accommodated in the upper part of the cavity. The cavity and the fixing element respectively have threads, which can screw along each other. The clamp member further comprises a first press element pressing against the block member of the column, a second press element having an inner thread corresponding to the external thread, and a press ring interposing between the first press element and the second press element. Further, two press plates are respectively installed between the first press element and the press ring and between the press ring and the second press element. A packing ring is installed on the second press element and near the inner thread and faced to the press ring. The support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall not only can firmly fix a dual-layer glass curtain wall to a fixing element on a building but also can prevent humidity from entering the gap of the dual-layer glass curtain wall.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a support device for a glass curtain wall, particularly to a waterproof support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With sophisticated glass fabrication technology, glass also greatly advances in usage safety in addition to its original superior transparency. Therefore, modern buildings widely adopt glass curtain walls, which benefit interior lighting and filter ultraviolet ray. The glass curtain wall is usually installed in the building with a support device. Refer to FIG. 1 for a conventional simply-structure support device for a glass curtain wall. As shown in the drawing, the conventional support device for a glass curtain wall comprises a screw 1 having a block member 2. The screw 1 passes through a via-hole 4 of a glass curtain wall 3 and cooperates with a nut 5 to fix the glass curtain wall 3. Two elastic washers 6 and 6′ may be interposed between the block member 2 and the glass curtain wall 3 and between the glass curtain wall 3 and the nut 5. When the screw 1 is screwed into the nut 5, the washers 6 and 6′ are pressed to close to the glass curtain wall 3, and the support device thus securely supports the glass curtain wall 3. However, the thread of the screw 3 cannot closely contact the via-hole 4 of the glass curtain wall 3. Besides, the washer 6 and 6′ cannot fully prevent from the rain driven by strong wind. Thus, water and wind may intrude into the interior. Further, when an external force, such as an earthquake, a strong wind or a human beating, is applied to the glass curtain wall 3, the glass curtain wall 3 will collide with the screw 1, and the glass curtain wall 3 may thus crack.

A Taiwan patent No. M303964 disclosed a conventional support device for a glass curtain wall, which comprises a column, a clamp ring, and a top brace. An annular block member extends from one end of the column. The column passes through a via-hole of a piece of glass. A buffer pad is interposed between the block member and one surface of the glass. The block member has at least one elastic flange on the surface facing the glass. Another buffer pad is interposed between the clamp ring and the other surface of the glass. The clamp ring and the block member will together clamp the glass tightly. One end of the top brace is integrated with the column. The two flanges of the support device will be deformed by the clamping force of the clamp ring and the block member to compensate the gaps between the glass and the column and form an airtight/waterproof structure. However, the top brace and the clamp ring are screwed together via the threads thereof, and there is none airtight/waterproof element in the threads, and water will still enter via the threads. Thus, in addition to water leakage, the threads will rust. When the support device is used in a dual-layer glass, humidity will enter the gas between the two pieces of glass, and vapor will condense on the glass, and the transparency of glass is thus decreased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to secure the installation of a dual-layer glass curtain wall and to prevent humidity from entering the gap of the dual-layer glass curtain wall to attain a full airtight/waterproof function.

To achieve the abovementioned objective, the present invention proposes a support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall, which is used to support a dual-layer glass curtain wall and provides an airtight/waterproof function for the gap of the dual-layer glass curtain wall and comprises a column, a clamp member sleeving the column, and a top brace installed inside the column. The outer surface of the column has an external thread. The column has a block member horizontally extending from the bottom of one end, and a packing ring is arranged in the root of the block member. The other end of the column has an inward-concaved cavity, and a fixing element is accommodated in the upper part of the cavity. The cavity and the fixing element respectively have threads, which can screw along each other. The clamp member further comprises a first press element pressing against the block member of the column, a second press element having an inner thread corresponding to the external thread, and a press ring interposing between the first press element and the second press element. Further, two press plates are respectively arranged between the first press element and the press ring and between the press ring and the second press element. A packing ring is arranged in the second press element and near the inner thread and faced to the press ring. When the first press element presses the block member and the second press element presses the press plate, the two packing rings are deformed to compensate the gaps of the structure; thus, the airtight/waterproof objective is achieved. Therefore, the support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall of the present invention not only can firmly secure a dual-layer glass curtain wall to a fixing element on a building but also can prevent humidity from entering the gap of the dual-layer glass curtain wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a conventional simply-constructed support device for a glass curtain wall.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of the support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a first exploded view schematically showing the support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a second exploded view schematically showing the support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view schematically showing the support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view schematically showing that the support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall according to the present invention is assembled to a dual-layer glass curtain wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The technical contents of the present invention are to be described in detail in cooperation with the drawings below.

Refer to from FIG. 2 to FIG. 5 respectively a perspective view, a first exploded view, a second exploded view and a sectional view of the support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall according to the present invention. As shown in the drawings, the present invention is a support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall, which is used to support a dual-layer glass curtain wall 40 and has an airtight/waterproof function. The support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall of the present invention comprises a column 10, a clamp member 20 sleeving the column 10, and a top brace 30 installed inside the column 10. The outer surface of the column 10 has an external thread 11. The column 10 has a block member 12 horizontally extending from the bottom of one end. An elastic packing ring 13 is installed in the root of the block member 12. The other end of the column 10 has an inward-concaved cavity 14, and a fixing element 15 is accommodated in the upper part of the cavity 14. The cavity 14 and the fixing element 15 respectively have threads, which can screw along each other. The clamp member 20 functions as the primary structure for clamping the glass curtain wall 40 and further comprises a first press element 21 pressing against the block member 12 of the column 10, a second press element 22 having an inner thread 221 corresponding to the external thread 11, and a press ring 23 interposing between the first press element 21 and the second press element 22. Further, two press plates 24 and 25 are respectively installed between the first press element 21 and the press ring 23 and between the press ring 23 and the second press element 22. A trench 222 formed on the second press element 22 is faced to the press ring 23 and near the inner thread 221. The trench 222 is used to accommodate an elastic packing ring 223. A butt 31 is formed at one end of the top brace 30 and is to be installed inside the cavity 14. The other end of the top brace 30 is to be secured to a fixing element on a building (not shown in the drawings). The packing rings 13 and 223 will be deformed by a pressing force to fill the gap between the column 10 and the first press element 21 and the gap between the column 10 and the second press element 22 and prevent humidity from entering the structure of the support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall.

Refer to FIG. 6 a sectional view schematically showing that the support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall according to the present invention is assembled to a dual-layer glass curtain wall. As shown in FIG. 6, two pieces of glasses of the glass curtain wall 40 are respectively installed between the press plate 24 and the press ring 23 and between the press ring 23 and the press plate 25. Two cylindrical surfaces 231 and 231′ extend outward from the central region of the press ring 23. The two pieces of glasses of the glass curtain wall 40 respectively have via-holes closely matching the cylindrical surfaces 231 and 231′, which can prevent the glass curtain wall 40 from directly contacting the external thread 11 lest the stability of the glass curtain wall 40 be influenced by the mismatch resulting from the direct contact of the glass curtain wall 40 and the column 10. When the second press element 22 utilizes the inner thread 221 to screw along the external thread 11 of the column 10 toward the first press element 21, the two pieces of glass of the glass curtain wall 40 are thus clamped by the press ring 23 and the press plates 24 and 25.

To intensify the airtight/waterproof function of the support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall of the present invention, at least one packing ring 211/224 is installed on the first/second press element 21/22 and contacts the press plate 24/25; at least one packing ring 241/251 is installed on said press plate 24/25 and faced to the press ring 23; at least one packing ring 232/233 is installed on the press ring 23 and faced to the press plate 24/25. The packing rings 211, 224, 232, 233, 241 and 251 are made of elastic material and will be deformed by a pressing force. Thus, the packing rings will closely contact the surfaces. Therefore, humidity will neither enter the structure of the support device for the dual-layer glass curtain wall 40 nor enter the gap 41 of the dual-layer glass curtain wall 40.

The present invention utilizes the clamp member 20 to firmly fix a dual-layer glass curtain wall 40 to the building and utilizes a plurality of packing rings 13, 211, 223, 224, 232, 233, 241 and 251 to prevent humidity from entering the structure of the support device for the dual-layer glass curtain wall 40 or the gap 41 of the dual-layer glass curtain wall 40. Therefore, the present invention can fully achieve the airtight/waterproof objective. Via inhibiting humidity entering the structure of the support device of a dual-layer glass curtain wall, the present invention not only can prolong the service life of the support device of a dual-layer glass curtain wall but also can prevent the transparency of a dual-layer glass curtain wall from being degraded by vapor.

Those described above are the preferred embodiments to exemplify the present invention. However, it is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any equivalent modification or variation according to the spirit of the present invention is to be also included within the scope of the present invention. 

1. A support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall, which is used to support a dual-layer glass curtain wall and provides an airtight/waterproof function for the gap of said dual-layer glass curtain wall, comprising the following components: a column having an external thread on the outer surface thereof and a block member horizontally extending from the bottom of one end thereof, wherein an elastic packing ring is installed in the root of said block member; the other end of said column has an inward-concaved cavity, and a fixing element is accommodated in the upper part of said cavity; said cavity and said fixing element respectively have threads, which can screw along each other; a clamp member sleeving said column and further comprising a first press element pressing against said block member of said column, a second press element having an inner thread corresponding to said external thread, and a press ring interposing between said first press element and said second press element, a press plate arranged between said first press element and said press ring, a press plate arranged between said press ring and said second press element, and a packing ring installed on said second press element and near said inner thread and faced to said press ring; and a top brace with one end thereof being a butt installed inside said cavity and the other end being secured to a fixing element on a building.
 2. The support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall according to claim 1 wherein at least one packing ring is installed on said first press element and contacts said press plate.
 3. The support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall according to claim 1, wherein at least one packing ring is installed on said second press element and contacts said press plate.
 4. The support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall according to claim 1, wherein at least one packing ring is installed on said press plate and faced to said press ring.
 5. The support device for a dual-layer glass curtain wall according to claim 1, wherein at least one packing ring is installed said press ring and faced to said press plate. 